An aesthetician’s main job is to apply skin care treatments and to provide instructions for home skin care. People with this training typically work in spas and salons, but they sometimes also find themselves in medical offices and clinics. A lot of the day-to-day work depends on the setting. Spas typically offer purely cosmetic treatments, like skin peels and microderm abrasions, that clients often seek in order to make their skin look more refreshed and youthful. Professionals in these places typically spend most of their time listening to client desires and applying appropriate treatments. There is also a need for this sort of training in medically necessary plastic surgery and skin restoration, and this sort of work tends to be more focused on the treatments patients need to be healthy, not just what they can do to look their best. People in both settings are frequently responsible for counseling clients and patients about skin upkeep and general care, and may also find themselves tasked with administrative and filing work.

Ad

Understanding the Field Generally

In general, an aesthetician is a beauty consultant who is focused predominantly on the skin and face. Some of the most common tasks include meeting with clients, ascertaining goals, and making recommendations about different soaks, creams, or scrubs that could be applied. Sometimes these professionals are also concerned with hair removal, and can do things like apply lasers to unwanted hair on the face and neck or thread eyebrows to give a more contoured look. A lot depends on the setting and the client.

Skin Treatments

One of first things a person in this field must do is become knowledgeable about different skin types, so as to apply the appropriate skin treatments and products. Professionals usually need to meet the needs of a diverse range of clients who may have sensitive, dry, oily, or combination skin. A basic skin consultation is generally performed when first starting with a new client, which involves the use of equipment such as a magnifying lamp to get a glimpse of the skin’s overall appearance and condition. Professionals will then recommend the appropriate skin care regimen and products. Other common duties involve performing facial massages to relax the muscles.

Hair Removal

Knowing about the leading hair removal techniques is also important. In addition to lasers and threading, many people in this field also perform waxing, which is the application of hot wax to the skin that is then quickly ripped away to remove hair follicles from the root up. Getting the right technique can take some practice, and paying attention to the client’s skin needs is also important here; people with sensitive skin or allergies often have bad reactions to wax, and it’s the technician’s job to help avoid these sorts of issues or treat them once they happen.

Providing Instruction

Professionals also typically give tips and advice to clients in addition to performing treatments. For example, he or she may demonstrate the proper way to clean the face and body, or instruct on how to use chemical peels or treatment masks at home between salon visits. Other common advice includes finding and applying the right makeup, as well as instructing clients on how to use skin, nail, or hair care tools.

In Medical Settings

An aesthetician who works in a medical setting generally assists a dermatologist or plastic surgeon in treating a patient for a skin injury or deformity. He or she may also help to restore the skin before and after surgery by doing medical peels, microdermabrasions, or facials, in addition to laser skin rejuvenation and laser hair removal. At times, the professional may also be responsible for administering prescription skin care treatments or medications, but usually only under the supervision of a licensed healthcare provider.

Administrative Tasks

It’s often the case that people with aesthetics training are also responsible for certain business tasks and administrative duties. Good customer service skills are essential and the job often requires tracking client needs and offering the appropriate services. Some additional administrative duties include scheduling appointments, making business transactions, and maintaining an inventory of supplies and equipment, as well as selling cosmetics and skin care merchandise.

Recommended

Related wiseGEEK Articles

Discuss this Article

@browncoat - I would feel a bit guilty about that, to be honest. I mean, I don't really think that the treatments done at a salon are all that necessary, and people spend a lot of money on them.

In some cases, I suspect they are actually doing more harm than good. I know my skin tends to look and feel best when I don't use too many products.

I just think a lot of this kind of job is geared more towards making money than trying to help people with their health. It's like a short term beauty racket rather than the long term solution that it often gets touted as being.

browncoatPost 2

@clintflint - Aesthetician training is always a good career move, because it's one of those jobs that is always going to be in demand. Even when people are in economic trouble they will still go and take care of their skin, hair and nails, because those are some of the most visible outward signs of well-being and prosperity and people like to be seen as being well off.

Also it's a good way to treat yourself, since you're doing something that's enjoyable and healthy at the same time.

The job isn't for everyone though. You really need to have attention to detail and the ability to be cheerful and warm to everyone even if you aren't feeling particularly happy at the time.

clintflintPost 1

My housemate has her own salon and works as an aesthetician, although I've never heard her call it that. I never realized how much research and work actually goes into the job, but she works very long hours and cares quite a lot about making sure her clients have the best treatment.

It seems to be quite a growing market so it's not a bad career to pursue if you are interested in this kind of thing.

Post your comments

Please enter the code:

Login

Register

Make changes/additions/deletions to the article below, and one of our editors will publish your suggestions if warranted.

Optional: Explanation of your recommended changes

Thank You!

One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted.
Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive,
this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!